2 Pa. reps want NCAA to restore PSU scholarships

ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 29, 2013 12:34 AM

ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 29, 2013 12:34 AM

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-5th Dist., was photographed at Shade's Beach in Harborcreek Township on Jan. 12. If he is re-elected in the 2012 general election, Harborcreek Township and all or part of 25 other Erie County municipalities will become part of Thompson's district under the new congressional redistricting plan.CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Two Pennsylvania congressmen want the NCAA to restore football scholarships taken away from Pennsylvania State University, saying in a letter Monday those sanctions unfairly punish student-athletes for the child sex abuse scandal involving retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

In the letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert, U.S. Reps. Charlie Dent and Glenn Thompson wrote that taking away up to 40 scholarships harmed players who had nothing to do with the scandal.

"I want to make it clear to the NCAA who they are really hurting with this scholarship reduction. It's not Jerry Sandusky and it's not the university," Dent said in a statement.

"They are hurting young people who are completely innocent of anything relating to the Sandusky situation and who through no fault of their own are being denied a chance to get a great education."

The NCAA sanctions limit Penn State's recruiting classes to no more than 15 signees a year for four years, starting with the 2013 class to be formally finalized next week. Most teams can sign 25.

Sanctions also include a four-year postseason ban that began for the 2012 season and a $60 million fine.

If his request to restore scholarships is denied, the congressmen asked Emmert to deduct from the fine an amount equal to 40 scholarships so the school can use it instead to supply access to academic programs.

In announcing sanctions last July, Emmert drew the ire of fans and alumni after the NCAA denounced the school for "perpetuating a 'football-first' culture that ultimately enabled serial child sexual abuse to occur."

Penn State historically has had high graduation rates for athletes.

Dent cited in his letter NCAA data released in 2012 showing the football team had a graduation rate of 91 percent, which was tied with Rutgers for seventh best among major college programs. The major college average was 68 percent.

Dent said the statistics showed Penn State places education ahead of football.

"Thus, arbitrarily eliminating 40 scholarships to Penn State is undeniably and inexcusably punitive to young people" not involved with the scandal, he said.